The Book of 1 John
God is love — assurance of faith, and a call to walk in light and love.
Overview
First John was written so that believers might know they have eternal life. Warm and pastoral, it returns again and again to two tests of real faith: walking in the light, and loving one another.
At its centre is one of the Bible's simplest and most profound statements: God is love. Everything else in the letter flows from that.
Key themes
Assurance of faith
John writes so believers may know for certain they have eternal life.
Walking in the light
Real faith shows in honest confession and obedience, not perfection.
God is love
Because God is love and loved us first, we are freed to love one another.
Key verses from 1 John
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
We love him, because he first loved us.
These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
The reason the whole letter was written — assurance.
How to read 1 John
Read it for assurance when your faith feels shaky.
Notice the twin tests of light and love running through it.
Let 'God is love' anchor everything else you believe about him.